White smoke from engine bay while driving

Did you wash the car earlier this week? Water trapped?
How about the expansion canister? Rusty tears on the black paint?

 

If everything seems ok, perhaps a pothole with water that was sprayed over the headers/exhaust?

Keep a close look on the gauges and liquid levels in near future. Also on the mirrors...

Where are you located in B?

 

Oil in the breather system. If I fill my mondial t even to the minimum stick level it puts out clouds of white smoke, as soon an I take half a litre out its fine. Seems to suck it in the inlet manifold.

 

One question, did you tap up your coolant reserve tank before you took the car out.
I ask because when I first just got my car 3 years ago, I over filled my coolant expansion tank to the point when the car got hot, the pressure busted a hose and I got coolant all over the headers which in my rear view mirrors looked like a raging fire out of the engine bay but it was just white smoke. Scary to see it when it happens. Got a new hose and refilled the coolant, all was fine.

Make sure you do not fill coolant past the half way line in the expansion tank leaving room for expansion, 'Duh moment for me.

Best

 

Check the bushing near the intake (just behind it), it has deteriorated in one of my Mondials and there was smoke coming out when it finally broke off.

 

Surprised, I would think oil in the breather would show as a little darker smoke.

I am pretty sure I have an overflow tube on the expansion tank; but if overfilled, it would pressurize and hit some of the hot exhaust pipes out of the non capped overflow tube. That would cause some white smoke until the amount of pressurized coolant got below the overflow tube. I have never had an issue, but most tracks require a catch can on the overflow tube. Easy enough to rig up.

I would double check the coolant level when cold, and hope it was only an overfilled tank.

Regards,
Jerry

 

I had a leak from the front cam cover which then dropped down on the exhaust heat shield, so when a suitable amount had dripped down it would either burn off or when you went around a corner drop on the exhaust and give smoke out the engine cover. its worth a check to see if you have the same problem.

Jim

 

Hi,

This exact thing happened to me - ended up being too much oil from the last oil change and no gasket on the oil cap - oil bubbled over and spilled onto the exhaust manifold cover...check for leaks and if you see some oil stains on your passenger side cover - that might be it!

Good Luck

 

Does your exhaust manifold shield look like this?

http://mondialt.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/photo-42.jpg

 

hmmm, if you don't see any sort of oil residue - the problem might be something more sinister - make sure you have somebody check it out

Best case scenario is it was just some oil that bubbled over, worst case it could be gasket leak!

Good luck!

 

Check your coolant hoses that go under the air intake/house. There is a T split. The little pipe is known for corrosion and will leak. (Red arrow)

For the rest I would check all the yellow area.

1. Coolant level ok?
2. Perhaps too much coolant? (It'll throw coolant out via the breather pipe..)

HTH
Tijn
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I had an incident where the car dropped its aircon gas charge thru the front seal of the compressor in one big lot and it was as you describe a big poof of whiteish smoke.
Does your car have A/C if so turn it on and see if you have aircon still

 

That can easily have created the white smoke I would check the cam belts though if no pieces are torn out from this snapped airco belt.

 

Is the smoke from the engine bay or the exhaust?
I know the caption says engine bay but are you sure?

 

Well it can only be 3 things as I see it, Oil smoke, Steam,or burning rubber.
What does it smell of?
Regards Bell